Flagler Palm Coast: Versatile Adam Mitchell fits anywhere

Determined athlete will be a factor for the Bulldogs

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Adam Mitchell caught the eye of Flagler Palm Coast coach Caesar Campana before he ever saw the 17-year-old on a football field and for all the right reasons.

That was four years ago and well before the abrupt coaching change this summer that saw Steve Allen resign and Campana coaxed out of semi-retirement to take over as coach.

Campana, who was teaching English at rival Matanzas for the past two years after a six-year stint as one of Allen's key assistants, was looking for leadership from the group of seniors who were there when he last was on FPC's staff. And he remembered Mitchell well.

"I had Adam Mitchell as a ninth grader when I taught here, and I knew then that he was a special kid. He's a respectful kid and a good student and he's a great athlete," Campana said.

A key returnee at defensive end in the Bulldogs' 3-4 alignment, Mitchell has, in two seasons of varsity play, proven to be one of the most versatile players on the squad.

During the past couple of weeks, Mitchell has been spelling players at left tackle and left guard on offense and has played special teams.

Although he's not small (6-1, 195) Mitchell isn't exactly the prototypical size for a player expected to provide blind side pass protection for FPC quarterback Cory Soard or blow open holes for tailback Derron Green. But his adaptability is something his coaches spotted the first time he suited up.

"Adam brings all the intangibles to his game,'' said Nick Schell, FPC's defensive line coach. "He's made himself into a football player, does everything we ask him to.''

"He's got great strength, he's got great balance. He's just so tough," Campana said. "He could play tight end. He could play linebacker. He could play fullback, he's just that type of kid."

He has played almost every position with the exception of quarterback and wide receiver and he's glad to get chances to play anywhere.

Mitchell prides himself on being able to plug spots, but if given his druthers, he prefers to be doing it on the defensive side of the ball.

"I just like to hit people. I like defense because it's more active. On offense, you always know which play is going to be run, but on defense you have to react more to situations," Mitchell said.

Like many of the Bulldogs, Mitchell was shocked about the departure of coach Steve Allen in mid-July, but says the team is doing well under Campana.

"I think it takes a little more getting used to for the seniors, but you have to keep moving on," Mitchell said.

Although there is a long line of football-playing Mitchells in the Bunnell area, he is not related to them. Mitchell is originally from Kalamazoo, Mich., where he cut his teeth playing junior high school and Pop Warner football before his family moved to Florida in 2007.

"Down here it's so much more competitive because it's year round. You've got the winter up in Michigan where you can't play," he said.

Absent any concrete offers at this point, Mitchell said he'd love to play college football and admits he'd like to play up in Ann Arbor for the Michigan Wolverines. He carries a solid 2.5 GPA and figures he'd like to study business as a major.